Crisis Will Culminate To-day

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 289, 7 December 1936, Page 7

Crisis Will Culminate To-day

"King’s Party” in Commons

Received Sunday, 7 p.m,

LONDON, Dec. 5.

After an hour’s audience with the King Mr. Baldwin proceeded to Lon-

It is officially announced that the King has cancelled all public engagements including a two-day tour of the Potteries districts, a visit to Birmingham, inspection of the Scots Guards next week and the opening of the Peoplo's Palace in east end on Saturday next. Well-informed persons emphasise that undue importance should not be attached to the cancellation of the King ’s engagements which was done to enable the King to be free to deal with the crisis. The Press Association under- ’ stands that there is authority for saying that a definite move will be made within the next 48 hours. The crisis, according to authoritative circles, will be finished on Monday night. The King spent the night at Fort Belvedere where from the Ascot road many lights were seen in the building long after midnight. The Cabinet meeting ended at 10.40 a.m. It is understood some members of the Commons met in the smoking room of the House after the adjournment yesterday and decided to send a personal letter to the King assuring him of their support in any action he might think necessary to defend his constitutional rights. The movement is described as more or less collective. Other parties were approached but the result is not revealed. Sir John Simon had an hour's interview with Mr. Baldwin before the Cabinet met. The next Cabinet meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Monday. Mr'. Baldwin left Downing Street by motor-car at 5.15 p.m. It was understood he was driving to Fort Belvedere to see the King. The Australian Associated Press understands that Mr. W. T. Monckton, K.C., Attorney-General for the Duchy of Cornwall, also had a long interview with the King at Fort Belvedere on Wednesday night. Observers attach the highest importance to it. Mr. Monckton visited No. 10 Downing Street, after to-day’s Cabinet meeting.

Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, Dominion Secretary, remained at No. 10 for ten minutes after the Cabinet meeting. All the King’s staff vvero at the Palace this morning. Sir Eric Mieville, private secretary to the Duke of York, also called. The King at present is not expected at the Palace. Lord Dawson of Penn, the King’s physician, saw the King at Port Belvedere last night. His Majesty’s health is excellent. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says it is understood Mr. Baldwin summoned this morning '3 special Cabinet to report the result of last night’s interview with the King. According to the Morning Post further communications between Mr. Baldwin and the King are expected to follow the meeting.

The Daily Herald’s political correspondent says the opinion of the Parliamentary Labour party is steadily hardening in support of the view that the authority of Parliament must he upheld against the King’s personal wishes. The Daily Telegraph says at least. 90 per cent, of the Labour members of the Commons are prepared to support their leader, Major Attlee’s views.

It is assumed Cabinet heard Mr. Baldwin’s report of last night’s audience with the King. No. 10 Downing Street says there will be no further Cabinet meeting - to-day. Sir John Simon returned to No. 10 this afternoon and tho AttorneyGeneral visited the Dominions Office. Mr. Monckton remained with Sir John Simon for two hours.

A high authority says the voluntary adbication of the King would not necessitate legislative steps to give it effect hut consequential legislation would certainly be required. Under the Act of Settlement the succession has passed automatically to the eldest surviving son. If King Edward married and had issue his abdication would not affect the succession hut new legislation would he required to establish the issue cf the new King in the line of succession.

The Times says it is recognised that it would place the new monarch in a most invidious position to ask him to give Royal assent to such a measure. Such an Act would doubtless be presented to Parliament forthwith as the final measure to which the outgoing monaren would bo asked to give assent. Self-will or Self-sacrifice Tho Morning Post says:— “The choice before tho King to-day is between self-will and self-sacrifice. We cannot believe his decision will be unworthy of the man or the occasion.” The police escorted from Downing Street a cyclist whose whole machine was placarded: ‘‘We want Edward, not Baldwin. The King must not abdicate.”